Good songs to teach a beginner?

[NoSlapForYou]

In this time of self-isolation, a friend asked me to help her learn bass via video call. Right now she is in extremely early stages of her playing. I want to teach her some fingering and fretting exercises. But only playing that stuff can get boring.

Suggestions for songs to learn? Because I'm around 40 and started when I was 14, most of the songs I know are by Nirvana. I never did bother to learn many other people's songs as an adult, being focused more on writing my own songs. She's roughly my age, so stuff that's in both our frame of reference would be good.

Ideas? She already knows "Smoke on the Water."

 

[Gorn]

Stand by Me
Just My Imagination

 

[dramatwist]

...started my son on bass when he was 10 with "Sunshine of Your Love"...

 

[Wito]

Seven Nation Army? Not "technically" a bass, but it's easy and instantly recognizable.

 

[bass12]

My first thought was “Stand By Me”. Classic line, classic chord progression.

“Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay” (Otis Redding)
“Stir It Up” (Bob Marley)
“Buffalo Soldier” (Bob Marley)
“Lively Up Yourself” (Bob Marley)
“Jamming” and “Exodus” (Bob)
“Le Freak” and “Good Times” (Chic)
“Ain’t No Sunshine” (Bill Withers)
“There’s Nothing Like This” (Omar)
“All Blues” (Miles Davis)
Most songs by The Police or Sting
Any song by U2

 

[Gorn]

Creep.

 

[Pilgrim]

All oldies from me....

Green Onions
Peter Gunn Theme
Sunshine of Your Love
Pipeline

 

[FunkHead]

In this time of self-isolation, a friend asked me to help her learn bass via video call. Right now she is in extremely early stages of her playing. I want to teach her some fingering and fretting exercises. But only playing that stuff can get boring.

Suggestions for songs to learn? Because I'm around 40 and started when I was 14, most of the songs I know are by Nirvana. I never did bother to learn many other people's songs as an adult, being focused more on writing my own songs. She's roughly my age, so stuff that's in both our frame of reference would be good.

Ideas? She already knows "Smoke on the Water."

The first thing I learned was all of Led Zeppelin II. Most of it was really easy. I guess some would call it Pentatonic? I don't know but I play by ear and I was proud to be able to just play it. I fudged my way through "Lemon Song/Killing floor" for a few months. Then I buckled down and learned it all note for note. Now I play it different every time putting together different notes each time while walking.

My point is that I recommend taking one artist at a time and getting inside their heads. I still incorporate JPJ's style into my playing along with 100's of other Players.

I enjoyed learning all of Golden Earrings "Moontan album". It's another easy one IMO.

Rush 2112 is another one that isn't really hard to learn but I learned all of "Caress of Steel" first.

"Smoke on the water" has some great walking during the guitar solo along with an intro to Octave use at the end of the song. If your student has that song down note for note then I say you're doing a great job teaching her.

for some individual songs, I recommend: "Plush" by Stone Temple Pilots, "Highway Song" by Blackfoot, "Waitin for the Bus" by ZZ top, "Heading Out to the Highway" by Judas Priest, "Love Her Madly" by The Doors, "No Sugar Tonight" by The Guess Who.

 

[bassdude51]

Louie Louie. Wipe Out.

 

[micguy]

ACDC's Back in Black album is an example of a bunch of music that, with not too much work, you can play something that fits. To do it exactly like the record, you could spend a lifetime building endurance, speed, and finesse to be able to do it just right.

 

[bobba66]

Not Fragile.

 

[gln1955]

Why not ask her what she would like to learn and pick out the easiest from her list?

 

[skyline_01]

U2 - With Or Without You. It's probably the first popular song that I played through 30+ years ago when I started bass. Yes, it's the same 4 notes over and over but it could also be a lesson in tempo control.

 

[DanAdams]

I learned the Pixies, "Here comes your man" very early.
It's so satisfying as a beginner because it sounds more difficult than it is, and it is the main riff.

Plus I imagine that Kim Deal could be a great inspiration for a beginning female player, and it's just an awesome song.

 

[nilorius]

Nirvana has nothing to learn, if you want to realy learn - take donna lee in slow tempo.

 

[rtslinger]

CCR Bad moon and Fortunate Son fun to play simple to follow

 

[dalkowski]

Mustang Sally
Wagon Wheel

 

[NoSlapForYou]

Nirvana has nothing to learn, if you want to realy learn - take donna lee in slow tempo.

Nirvana has a few bass lines that could teach you stuff about outlining the chord notes or walking. "Lounge Act" and "Lithium" come to mind. But the reason most of their songs are good for a beginner is precisely because they're simple. Walk before you run, etc. I think even "Smells Like Teen Spirit" would be fairly challenging for her at this point. She doesn't have much finger speed or strength.

 

[diegom]

Why not ask her what she would like to learn and pick out the easiest from her list?

^^^ This +1.
She will get a bigger sense of accomplishment, because she's learning the songs SHE wants to play, even if simplified or changed to address a certain technique.

Diego

 

[SunByrne]

First song I learned, seemed like a good starting place.